With my current bank in Germany, I have a card I can't use to buy things online with. With my old bank (a small town bank) they gave me a debit card with a chip and it was supported by Visa which meant I could order online. So, it's a disadvantage. At the moment, if I want to order something, I have to transfer money to my American account.

In the US, we have debit cards with chips. Some people still use checks but it's not as prevalent as Europeans like to think. With huge banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase, what sense does it make to believe our banks are behind technologically? It's sensible to consider that US companies, from banks to manufacturers would try to keep up with everything if they want to continue being competitive. Sometimes, I believe Europeans aren't taught any common sense.